This is played on the L’Arrivee in the key of E, in standard tuning, the signature chord form that opens this tune up is the opening E7, which from low string to high is:

0-2-2-4-3-4

If this is unfamiliar, you can understand it as a first position D7 [ X-0-0-2-1-2] fingered with your little fingers, leaving your index finger out of the form. Move this up two frets (making an E7 sound) and then placing that waiting index finger behind the chord on the fourth and fifth strings at the second fret. This allows you to open the sixth string (E) and play a wonderfully full and interesting E7. The rest of the tune will follow pretty easily once you’ve gotten your fingers around this. Very cool. Also on this track are the mandolin and fretless bass.

Printed from Scott Ainslie’s website: cattailmusic.com/big-fat-mama

Scott’s notes about the song and a link to an mp3 sample are also available there.

I learned this song on a contemporaneously taboo subject from David ‘Honeyboy’ Edwards, an erstwhile companion of the late Robert Johnson. It extolls the considerable virtues of big women. Who says size doesn’t matter?